The historic Palmer House Hilton has recently opened the Palmer House Museum, located inside the hotel, to showcase the landmark’s extensive history. Since opening in 1871, the hotel has hosted countless world leaders, heads of state and celebrities. Additionally, the Palmer House Hilton has been the site of some of the nation’s most important events such as the campaigns for presidency for Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Ken Price, the hotel’s resident historian helped to create the museum. Price has been with the hotel for nearly 30 years and leads visitors through the museum and hotel with the History is Hott presentation and tour. “Our History is Hott tour has been incredibly successful and now, with the new museum, the tour is truly extraordinary,” says Price. “The Palmer House has a long and impressive history and to be able to share that with visitors is just wonderful.”
Some of the items in the museum include a scrapbook of Bertha Palmer, china used for the historic dinner held for the return of President Ulysses S. Grant from an around the world trip and a sterling silver beer stein used by Mark Twain. The museum additionally has an audio portion featuring recently discovered masters of recordings made in both the Empire and Victorian rooms. After the museum, guests tour the hotel and see many of the rooms closed to the public, as well as two recently unearthed paintings of James and Dolly Madison.
